Automatic switch-lock.



No. 636,294. Pat ented Nov. 7, I899.

M. SCHROYER.

AUTOMATIC SWITCH LOCK.

(Applicatiop filed Sept. 5, 1899.)

(No Model.)

WITNESSES INVENTOR ATTORNEYS PATENT OFFICE.

MARTIN SHROYER, OF FITZ HENRY, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC SWITCH-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 636,294, dated November7, 1899.

' Application filed September 5, 1899- berial No. 729,518. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN SHROYER, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Fitz Henry P. 0., 'in the county of Westmorelandand State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Automatic Switch-Locks, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certainnew and useful improvements inswitch-locks, and has for its object to provide novel means whereby aswitch may be easily operated and locked and to provide a guard which isconnected to and operative with the switch-lever and which is adapted tofit over the lock to protect the latter from dust, dirt, snow, andrain.-

A further object of the invention is to construct a switch-lock in whichthe parts may be easily removed and new ones substituted therefor incase of breakage, all parts being extremely simple in construction, yetstrong, durable, effectual in their operation, andcomparatively.inexpensive to manufacture.

Briefly described, the invention consists of a suitable base with aswitch-lever pivoted thereon and a lock arranged to engage and lock saidlever in the closed position. A cover is connected to the switch-leverand is movable therewith, the cover fitting over the lock when theswitch is closed and fully protecting the same from dust, dirt, and thelike. Supplemental means is provided for locking the lever in the closedposition in case the lock proper is broken, this supplemental meansassisting in holding the switch-lever in the closed position. Ahand-manipulated lock is also provided for holding the switchlever inthe position to which it has been moved to open the switch, all of whichparts will be hereinafter more specifically described, and thenparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail reference will be had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and whereinlike numerals of reference will be employed to designate similar partsthroughout the several views of the drawings, in which Figure 1 is aperspective view of my improved switch-locking mechanism. Fig. 2 is atop plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion ofthe base, showing the standard on one end thereof and the casingcontaining the lock proper. Fig. 4is a perspective view of thesupplemental locking-pawl arranged adjacent to the lock proper. Fig. 5is a like view of the locking-pawl which holds the switch lever in theposition to which it has been moved to open the switch. Fig. 6 is adetail perspective view of the switch-lever. Fig. 7 is a detail view inperspective of the guard or cover for. the casing containing the lockproper.

Referring to the drawings by referencenumerals, 1 indicates thebase-plate, which is or may be provided with notches 2 for securing byspiking to the cross-tie or other support. This base-plate has suitablyarranged thereon, preferably near its one edge, a bearing 3, in which isjournaled a shaft 4, having the one end of the looking or switch lever 5connected thereto, the free end of this lever extending beyond thebase-plate and having a suitable weight 6 thereon. This locking orswitch lever is recessed on its one face, as at 7, (see Fig. 6 of thedrawings,) for the reception of the locking-bolt 8, which operatesthrough the end of the casing 9 mounted upon the base 1, this casingcontaining the lock proper, which may be of any convenient form.Adjacent to the end of the casing 9 through which the bolt 8 operates Isecure upon the base 1 a suitable block 10, which is adapted to act as asupport for the switchlever and prevent the weight of the same restingupon the locking-bolt 8.

Mounted upon the end of the base 1 that is adjacent to the lock and itscasing is a standard 11, slightly curved at its upper end, as at 12, andprovided with a centrally-arranged vertical slot 13. pivotally mountedby means of a pin 14 the supplemental locking-pawl 15, having theaperture 16 to receive the pin 14 and having also a larger aperture 17,which is adapted to receive the hasp of a padlock in order to secure thelever in the locked position in case the lock proper should becomebroken or disarranged. The movement of this locking-pawl 15 is limitedby providing a pin 19 in the Within this slot is standard 11, whichoperates in a curved slot 18 in said pawl.

At the opposite end of the base is arranged an upright standard 20,which is .proyiderL with a centrally-arranged vertical slot 21 in orderto permit the pivotally securing therein of the locking-pawl 22. Themovement of this pawl is also limited by a pin 24, passing through thestandard and operating in a curved slot 23, provided therefor in thepawl.

A guide 28, having a curved inner face, is secured to the base in closeproximity to the standard 20, and a supporting-block 28' is secured tothe base between said guide and standard, upon which the lever may restwhen in the open position.

A dust guard or cover 25 is attached to the locking-lever 5 by means ofclamps 26, having set-screws 27 to secure said cover to the lever, andwhen the switch is closed this guard or cover fits neatly over thecasing containing the lock.

The operation of my improved switch-lock is as follows: A key isinserted through the keyhole in the casing 9 into engagement with thelock mechanism and the locking-bolt 8 drawn within the casing by theturning of said key, so as to disengage said bolt 8 from theswitch-lever, and by lifting upon the heavier end of the pawl 15 thepivoted end of the same is drawn within the vertical slot 13, so as topermit the throwing of the lever to open the switch. As the leverengages the pivoted end of the pawl 22 it raises the heavier end of thesame and passes underneath this pawl, when the heavier end of the samefalls by gravity and prevents the lifting of the switch-lever withoutpreviously lifting the heavier end of said pawl, so as to draw thepivoted end of the same within the vertical slot 21. When, however, thisheavier end of the pawl 22 is raised, the switch-lever may be againthrown into the position to lock and to close the switch and as itengages the inclined face of the locking-bolt 8 this bolt is depressedwithin the casing 9 until it is in registry with the recess 7, when itwill engage in the same and lock the lever. The lever during thisdownward movement has passed beneath the pawl 15, and the heavier end ofthe same falls by gravity, so as to cause the pivoted end of the same toproject over the lever. This locking-pawl 15 may be used for securingthe lever when it is desired to leave the lockinggagement with thelever, which is sometimes desired where the switch is considerably used.

In case of the lock becoming broken or dis- ,arranged a padlock may beinserted in the aperture 17, which will prevent the movement of the pawl15, and consequently the raising of the switch-lever, until such padlockis removed from the pawl.

While the construction as shown and described appears to embody thepreferable form of my invention, yet I do not wish to unduly limitmyself to this construction, as it will be observed that various changesmay be made in the details of construction without departing from thegeneral spirit of the invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A switch-locking mechanism comprising in combination with a suitablebase and a switch-lever pivotally mounted thereon, a lock arranged uponthe base and having a locking-bar adapted to engage said switchlever,a-standard arranged at each end of the base, a pawl pivotally secured ineach of said standards, and a cover rigidly connected to theswitch-lever and operative therewith to inclose the look when theswitch-lever is closed, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a switch-locking mechanism, the combination with a suitable baseand a switchlever pivotally mounted on said base, of a lock arranged onthe base and having a lockingbar adapted to engage the switch-lever, anda cover rigidly connected to the switch-lever to be operative therewithand adapted to inclose the look when the switch-lever is closed,substantially as shown and described.

3. In a switch-locking mechanism, the combination with a suitable baseand a switchlever pivotally mounted thereon, of a lock arranged on thebase and adapted to engage said switch-lever, a pivotally-mounted pawlarranged at either end of the base, and a cover connected to saidswitch-lever to be operative therewith and adapted to inclose the lockwhen the switch-lever is closed, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

MARTIN SHROYER.

Witnesses:

JOHN NOLAND,

bolt depressed within the casing 9 out of en- E. W. ARTHUR.

